Watford

Watford's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in ethnicity, housing tenure and religion.

The population passed 90,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Watford increased by 13%, from just over 79,700 to 90,300.

The addition of just under 11,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Watford was home to, on average, 30 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Eastof England's second-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Watford

Latest census data also show that the median age of Watford remained 35 years in the decade to 2011.

This suburban area had a lower average age than Eastof England and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 2,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years.

About 15% of people in Watford are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Watford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Watford

The number of people in Watford from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 69,000 in 2001 to about 65,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 86% to 72% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Watford from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 7,000 in 2001 to just over 16,000 in 2011 (from 8.8% to 18%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just over 2,100 to about 5,200 (from 2.7% to 5.8%).

About 3,100 people (2.1%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 1,700 in 2001 (3.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Watford decreased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Watford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Watford that rented privately increased from 9.7% to 20% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 16%, while the percentage of Watford households that owned their home decreased from 72% to 62%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Watford increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of households in Watford, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Watford

The number of people in Watford that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 13,000 in 2001 to just over 19,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 16% to 21% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Watford that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 53,000 in 2001 to about 49,000 in 2011 (from 66% to 54%). The number of people who described themselves as Muslim increased from just under 4,900 to about 8,900 (from 6.1% to 9.9%).

Just under 6,100 people (7.3%) did not state their religion, up from just over 5,800 in 2001 (6.7%).

The population without a religion in Watford increased by 5.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Watford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Watford residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.6% to 1.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.8% in 2001 to 2.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Watford remained close to 1.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Watford by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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